About Liatris spicata (L.) Willd.
Liatris spicata, commonly known as dense blazing star, prairie feather, gayfeather, or button snakewort, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the Asteraceae family. It is native to eastern North America, where it naturally grows in moist prairies and meadows. Its hardiness range covers zones 3 through 8, spanning from the Midwest to the East Coast of the United States, as well as eastern and western Canada. The plant produces tall spikes of purple flowers that resemble bottle brushes or feathers, and the whole plant grows 0.30 to 1.52 meters (1 to 5 feet) tall. There are several common cultivated varieties: 'Alba' and 'Floristan White' are white-flowering cultivars that produce 46 cm (18 inch) tall spikes; 'Callilepsis' has long stems suitable for cut flowers; 'Floristan Violett' has a strong stem and thick violet flower spikes preferred by florists; and 'Kobold' is a compact cultivar with deep purple flowers. Liatris spicata var. resinosa, a variety of this species, occurs in the southern portion of the species' natural range. Plants of this variety are variable, and only produce 5 to 6 flowers per head, with heads spaced more widely apart along the stems; these differences are more pronounced in plants growing in drier and coastal habitats. Liatris spicata is cultivated as a garden flower in many countries worldwide, grown for its showy purple flowers; some cultivars produce pink or white blooms instead. It flowers from July through August or September, depending on its growing location. When cultivated, it is sold and known under multiple common names including button snakewort, Kansas gay feather, blazing star, and Liatris callilepis. It grows best in full sun and prefers well-drained soil to avoid rot, though the species itself favors moist growing conditions. It cannot tolerate waterlogged soil during the winter. It can tolerate partial shade and drought once established, but requires regular watering during its first growing season to develop strong roots. It can be grown from corms (structures similar to bulbs and tubers), from seed, or purchased as established plants from garden centers and nurseries. To grow from seed, sow in early spring either indoors or directly outdoors. Germination takes 20 to 45 days. Once leaves have developed, divide plants into large clumps and space them 12 to 15 inches apart. This spacing allows sufficient sunlight and air circulation to reduce the risk of common diseases, which include stem rot caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, leaf spots caused by Phyllosticta liatridis and Septoria liatridis, rusts caused by Coleosporium laciniariae and Puccinia liatridis, powdery mildew caused by the Golovinomyces ambrosiae complex, and wilt caused by Verticillium albo-atrum. Plants grown from seed do not typically produce blooms until their second growing season. If amending soil for this plant, it prefers growing medium with high levels of calcium and magnesium, and low levels of potassium and phosphorus. In garden settings, Liatris spicata works well planted individually, as a border plant; its vertical growth habit makes it a good contrast to mounded and broad-leaf plants. Large sweeping plantings of this species work well in informal garden designs. Both fresh and dried Liatris spicata flowers are suitable for use as cut flowers, and dried flowers have a vanilla scent. Historically, Liatris spicata was used medicinally by Native Americans as a carminative, diuretic, stimulant, and expectorant herb. Beyond these general uses, the Cherokee people used the plant as an analgesic to treat pain in the back and limbs, and the Menominee people used it to treat heart issues. The root or corm of the plant is the part most commonly used for medicinal purposes. Native Americans also used this plant to treat swelling, abdominal pain, spasms or colic, and snake bites. Today, it is used as a gargle made from an infusion to treat sore throats, as an herbal insect repellent, and as an ingredient in potpourri.
